Empire Resorts, Inc., (NASDAQ: NYNY) today announced that it has appointed Laurette Pitts as Chief Financial Officer. Ms Pitts will be responsible for accounting, finance, public company reporting and Sarbanes-Oxley compliance.

Ms. Pitts most recently served from December 2008 until December 2010 as Regional Vice President of Finance and Administration for American Racing and Entertainment, LLC, a private company that owns and operates horseracing, resort, and gaming facilities, including Tioga Downs and Vernon Downs. She previously was employed as the Chief Financial Officer for Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs, a gaming and entertainment facility owned by the Mohegan Tribe of Indians of Connecticut, from April 2005 until November 2008.

Empire Resorts CEO Joseph D’Amato said, "It is with great pleasure that we welcome Ms. Pitts to Empire Resorts. Her diverse gaming background and experience with financial controls will be instrumental in furthering our growth and development. Laurette brings a wealth of finance and accounting experience to her duties as CFO, and her addition provides managerial, operational and financial depth to our executive team.”

In this appointment, Ms. Pitts will be also be responsible for Operational and Financial Accounting including Financial Reporting, Cash Management, Budgeting, Forecasting, Accounts Payable, Purchasing, Warehouse and Payroll. She will serve as a strategic leader and partner for direction, integrity and overall effectiveness of accounting and finance functions.

In addition to her most recent experience, Ms. Pitts has held a variety of senior financial positions with Seneca Allegany Casino, Mystic Lake Casino & Hotel, and The Tunica Sheraton Casino and at Harrah’s properties in Tunica, Memphis and Atlantic City.

Ms. Pitts received her MBA from Metropolitan State University in St. Paul Minnesota and her BA degree in accounting from Stockton State College in Pamona, New Jersey.

About Empire Resorts

Empire Resorts owns and operates the Monticello Casino & Raceway, a harness racing track and casino located in Monticello, New York, and 90 miles from midtown Manhattan. For additional information, please visit www.empireresorts.com.

Statements in this press release regarding the Company's business that are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" that may involve material risks and uncertainties. The Company wishes to caution readers not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which statements are made pursuant to the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1994, and as such, speak only as of the date made. For a full discussion of risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report or Form 10-K for the most recently ended fiscal year, as well as the Form 10-Q for the most recently ended fiscal quarter.